PORT HOPE — The Ontario government is injecting more than $5 million into skills training programs for youth, jobseekers, and apprentices in Northumberland and Peterborough, part of a broader $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund (SDF) strategy aimed at strengthening the province’s workforce in the face of U.S. tariffs and shifting global economic conditions.
The funding, announced Friday by Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini, will support training for more than 2,900 people in high-demand sectors including construction, manufacturing, aviation, and other skilled trades.
“Our government is investing in local training projects that protect Ontario workers by giving them the skills they need to land rewarding, well-paying jobs,” Piccini said. “These projects will help workers explore and train for rewarding careers, while strengthening our economy as we face global economic challenges.”
Youth Engagement Through Hands-On Learning
A key beneficiary of the funding is Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA NEO), receiving $609,398 for its Empowerment of Youth in Skilled Trades project. The program will introduce 2,650 students to skilled trades careers through hands-on training, mentorship, and 40 paid placements in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, motive power, and aviation.
“Too often, young people have the talent and drive to succeed in the skilled trades but lack the opportunities to explore and prepare for these careers,” said John McNutt, President & CEO of JA NEO. “With the Skills Development Fund’s support, our programs go beyond teaching technical skills; they build confidence, spark ambition, and show young people that their future is theirs to shape.”
Expanding Local Training Infrastructure
The SDF investment will also support three other organizations in the region:
- Northumberland Builders and Construction Association Inc. (NBACA) will receive $230,240 to purchase a mobile training trailer, enabling on-site compliance and general construction training for 100 participants.
- Nventure Business Development Corporation will be allocated $562,000 to create Canada’s first virtual reality recruitment and retention tool for the manufacturing sector, preparing 100 participants for industry demands.
- OPCMIA Local 598 Training Centre will get $3,947,100 for its Restoring Ontario and Restoring Port Hope projects, training 60 apprentices in brick and stone masonry and cement finishing, along with 36 pre-apprentices in restoration masonry to help complete a downtown Port Hope revitalization project.
Keith Herring, President of NBACA, said the funding is already making a tangible difference. “This training will help them continue working in our community and at virtually any job-site in the province… Our members and their employees can get the training they need here at home with the flexibility our industry requires.”
Strengthening Communities and the Economy
Local leaders emphasized the broader impact of the investment beyond job creation.
“We are grateful to the Province of Ontario for their generous funding through the Skills Development Fund Training Stream,” said Olena Hankivsky, Mayor of Port Hope. “This investment… equips residents with in-demand skills, and ensures we are ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
Kason Langley, President and Director of Training at OPCMIA Local 598, noted the role such investments play in regional development. “These programs are not only building skills—they’re building futures,” he said.
Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough–Kawartha, described the initiative as “a crucial step toward equipping local jobseekers with the tools they need to build lasting careers… strengthening our economy and creating new jobs in the greater Peterborough area.”
A Growing Fund with Provincial Commitment
Since launching in 2021, Ontario has invested $1.5 billion through the SDF’s Training and Capital Streams, training over one million workers for in-demand careers. The 2025 provincial budget committed an additional $1 billion over the next three years, raising the total to $2.5 billion.
The SDF Training Stream’s latest call for proposals, announced July 29, totals $260 million. Interested organizations can apply through the program’s website. While earlier funding rounds were supported by both the provincial and federal governments, the current round is financed exclusively by Ontario.
With targeted funding, innovative training approaches, and strong community engagement, the province is positioning its workforce for resilience against economic headwinds—while building the skills that will anchor Ontario’s competitiveness for years to come.
